The bomb squad was called to Union Park shortly after 8:00 a.m. A city employee says he found a black bag near the intersection of Saylor Road and Guthrie Avenue. The employee put the bag in his car and continued driving into Union Park.

He heard metal rattling inside the bag and pulled over to look at its contents. He saw what he thought were two pipe bombs. He put the bag on the ground and called police.

The Des Moines Bomb Squad arrived and placed the bag in a special trailer designed to handle explosives and mitigate their effects. The bag was transported to a remote location and the items inside were dismantled.

Bomb squad technicians say the items contained an “energetic material” that, if ignited, could have caused an explosion.

The park was closed for a few hours Wednesday morning while the bomb squad and investigators worked.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the pipe bombs to contact them or the Polk County Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.